Buffs Stumble Against No. 1 UCLA

BOULDER – A goal conceded in the 2nd minute put Colorado behind the eight ball and was all the No. 1 UCLA Bruins needed at Prentup Field on Thursday.

UCLA (14-1, 6-1 Pac-12) found the net six times in all and held the Buffs off the scoreboard in the 6-0 verdict. Colorado (8-5-3, 2-4-1 Pac-12) failed to score for the second consecutive match, after tallying a goal in 14 straight contests.

"We prepared very well for the game and it just didn't translate," head coach Danny Sanchez explained after the loss. "We talked about being tighter in the back and that didn't happen. We have to figure it out here quick."

Reilyn Turner opened the scoring at the 1:22 mark of the game, recording the fourth-fastest goal conceded against the Buffs. The goal surpasses the 1:40 mark that was set by current Buff Civana Kuhlmann who scored for Stanford 1:40 into the match on Oct. 21, 2018.

The Bruins outshout the Buffs on the afternoon, 20-6. Turner led UCLA with two goals and an assist to go with her four shots. Kuhlmann totaled three of CU's six shots.

"We don't have any time and we can't get caught up in RPI or standings," Sanchez said about the remaining schedule. "We have to get caught up in playing better and working for each other, on and off the ball. That didn't happen today for whatever reason. There was a level of tentativeness. We talked about if you make a mistake, make it being aggressive. That was not the case, especially in the first half. The game was lost in the first 25 minutes. We have to regroup quickly because USC is every bit as good as this UCLA squad."

How it happened
Turner's goal came off of UCLA's first possession of the day. The Bruins stole the ball away from the Buffs Turner raced in and beat Dani Hansen on the near post, notching the game-winner with 88 minutes still to go.

Colorado's Kayleigh Webb, playing in her 94th consecutive game, almost got the Buffs back to even in the 7th minute. She smashed from nine yards out but drilled the upper right crossbar. Kuhlmann added a header chance in the 12th minute off a long throw from Hannah Sharts, but it was directed right in on UCLA goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy.

The Bruins extended their lead to 2-0 in the 16th minute with MacKenzee Vance hitting one from distance and beating Hansen high.

Turner added a second goal in the 28th minute and Bridgette Marin-Valencia gave UCLA the 4-0 advantage in the 33rd minute.

Bella Grust started the second half in net for the second consecutive match, making four saves in relief.

The Bruins added goals in the 63rd and 70th minutes to round out the day's scoring.

"At the end of it, it's one game," Sanchez continued. "It stings. It hurts. They're the No. 1 team in the country for a reason. We're running out of time to turn it around. But once again, it's another very good team on Sunday so it's another great opportunity but we did not seize it by any stretch of the imagination today."

Up Next
The Buffs will host No. 15 Southern California on Sunday. Kickoff is set for noon and will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks. It is the team's Kick-or-Treat game, featuring a t-shirt giveaway and trick-or-treat stations.

Notes: CU falls to 0-10-0 all-time against No. 1 ranked opponents…The Buffs are now 2-13-0 all-time against UCLA…CU was shutout for the second consecutive match for the first time since Mar. 27 and April 2, 2021, against Washington State and Oregon State…The six-goal deficit was the largest since falling to No. 1 Stanford 7-0 on Oct. 21, 2018.

Next Event

Team Stats

Civana Kuhlmann

Kayleigh Webb

Hannah Sharts

Players Mentioned

Bella Grust

Dani Hansen

Civana Kuhlmann

Hannah Sharts

Kayleigh Webb

Players Mentioned

Bella Grust

Dani Hansen

Civana Kuhlmann

Hannah Sharts

Kayleigh Webb